YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: 'THERE IS ONE CONFIRMED FATALITY'

"The release point appears to be near the 'Waterfall Route,' a popular climbing route on the East Buttress of El Capitan.

"This is the area where Horsetail Fall flows in winter and spring conditions.

"There is one confirmed fatality and one injured person. Park rangers are working to transport the injured person to receive medical care outside of the park."

A spokesman added that the fall triggered three smaller slides which put emergency workers in danger.

Witnesses described seeing a piece of granite "the size of an apartment building" fall from the mountain.

"I saw a piece of rock at least 100 feet by 100 feet suddenly just come peeling off the wall with no warning," said Canadian climber Peter Zabrok, 57, who was scaling El Capitan and just above the rock fall.

Zabrok said he has climbed El Capitan dozens of times and has "never seen anything like this".

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